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Parents' Guide to

The Son

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Riveting thriller with less violence than most; sex, nudity.

Movie NR 2019 92 minutes
The Son Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Argentinean Lorenzo Roy (Joaquin Furriel) and his Norwegian wife Sigrid (Heidi Tioni) are desperate to have a baby in THE SON. Overjoyed when Sigrid becomes pregnant, they eagerly anticipate their baby son's arrival. Both have pasts that make them uneasy. Lorenzo, a former alcoholic, has no relationship with his two daughters from a first marriage. Sigrid suffered a miscarriage and is hyper-vigilant about this pregnancy. After initial help from a doctor, she decides to forego further medical assistance, makes some peculiar decisions about her medication, and decides that the baby will be born at home. Lorenzo is puzzled by Sigrid's increasingly odd behavior. When she brings in a surly midwife from Norway, the two further isolate Lorenzo from the preparations. The actual birth further separates husband and wife. Things get worse as the months pass. Lorenzo is given little time with the baby. Basically, they've locked him out. He strongly protests, then confides in his closest friends, Julieta (Martina Gusman) and Renato (Luciano Caceres), who sympathize, but are concerned about his agitated mental state. When Sigrid involves the police, Lorenzo erupts with an astonishing claim. He believes Baby Henrik isn't his child. Events escalate in a tightly drawn battle of wills.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1 ):

This movie, with terrific performances and stellar direction, comes with an ending that will leave an audience either exhilarated or peeved, depending on their willingness to appreciate a sly puzzle. Director Sebastian Schindel keeps the tension high, the developing events mysterious, and rooting interest uncertain. Motives are always perplexing. Is Sigrid a caring mom or a villain? Is Lorenzo believable, paranoid, or a sufferer of Capgras Syndrome (a disorder in which a person holds a delusion that a loved one has been replaced by an imposter)? The Son is seen from Lorenzo's perspective or, in later significant moments, from the perspective of Julieta, his friend and lawyer, and it works. Schindel's decision to leave conversations between Sigrid and the midwife untranslated from Norwegian works well. It leaves the audience in the dark just as Lorenzo is. For fans of psychological thrillers where the stakes are high and the answers aren't easy, it's a very satisfying movie.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the scares and tension in The Son. Does the movie live up to its "thriller" classification? How much of the conflict results in actual violence? How much is based on psychological dread and audience apprehension? What do you think is the difference in the impact between graphic violence and more subtle terror?

  • Some viewers may find the ending of The Son to be puzzling and/or abrupt. Would you agree or disagree with them? How much did the production team choose to leave to the audience's imagination? What do you think Julieta saw? Is it intriguing to figure it out for yourself, or did you feel cheated?

  • What techniques did the filmmakers use to accelerate the tension and scares (i.e., music, lighting)?

  • How was Lorenzo's home used as a "character" in the film?

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